CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM

MUSEUM BUILDING AND GALLERIES: THE CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM RAISED FUNDS FROM PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC SOURCES TO FINANCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM FACILITY. THE TWO-STORY, 28,500-SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING BROKE GROUND IN DECEMBER 2009, CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER 2011 AND THE MUSEUM OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN NOVEMBER 2011. THE BUILDING, CUSTOM DESIGNED BY BRAD CLOEPFIL OF ALLIED WORKS ARCHITECTURE FOR THE STORAGE AND DISPLAY OF THE STILL COLLECTION, WON THE 2012 HONOR AWARD FROM THE NEW YORK CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS. A CANTILEVERED CANOPY OF CONCRETE LEADS VISITORS INTO THE FIRST-FLOOR LOBBY, AND GLASS WALLS ALLOW VISITORS TO SEE INTO THE CONSERVATION STUDIO AND COLLECTIONS STORAGE. THE MUSEUM'S OPEN DESIGN EMBODIES THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLE OF THE INSTITUTION, THE REVEALING TO THE PUBLIC OF THIS ONCE-PRIVATE AND VERY PERSONAL COLLECTION. THE SECOND FLOOR CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF NINE DISTINCT GALLERIES, HAVING VARYING CEILING HEIGHTS AND PROPORTIONS DESIGNED FOR THE OPTIMAL DISPLAY OF THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE STILL COLLECTIONS. ONE OF THE SINGULAR FEATURES OF THE MUSEUM IS ITS DAYLIGHT SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES DIFFUSING SKYLIGHTS AND MOTORIZED SHADES SITUATED ABOVE A CUSTOM-FORMED, PERFORATED CONCRETE CEILING. THE MUSEUM'S STATE-OF-THE-ART MECHANICAL SYSTEMS MAINTAIN THE OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE ARTWORKS.

EXHIBITIONS AND COLLECTIONS: THE CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM WAS ESTABLISHED TO SERVE AS A PERMANENT REPOSITORY AND EXHIBITION PLACE FOR THE WORKS OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PAINTERS OF THE 20TH CENTURY, CLYFFORD STILL (1904-1980). CLYFFORD AND PATRICIA STILL'S WILLS DIRECTED THAT THE STILL COLLECTION BE GIVEN TO AN AMERICAN CITY THAT WOULD AGREE TO BUILD AND SUPPORT SUCH A MUSEUM. AFTER THE ARTIST'S DEATH IN 1980, THE CLYFFORD STILL ESTATE WAS SEALED OFF FROM PUBLIC AND SCHOLARLY VIEW. IN 2004-2005, THE ARTIST'S WIDOW PATRICIA SELECTED THE CITY OF DENVER TO RECEIVE THE SUBSTANTIAL STILL COLLECTION, INCLUDING THE ARTIST'S ARCHIVES. THE CLYFFORD STILL MUSEUM, AS THE STEWARD OF THIS LEGACY COLLECTION, IS CONTINUING THE LENGTHY PROCESS OF ATTENDING TO THE CONSERVATION OF STILL'S PAINTINGS, MANY OF WHICH HAVE BEEN ROLLED AND IN STORAGE FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AS WELL AS THE EXTENSIVE WORKS ON PAPER COLLECTION. THE MUSEUM IS ALSO DEVOTING SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO THE INSPECTION AND CATALOGING OF THE COLLECTIONS, THE PREPARATION OF WORKS FOR EXHIBITION, AND TO THE PROPER STORAGE OF THE COLLECTIONS IN THE MUSEUM ITSELF. THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION OF APPROXIMATELY 3,200 PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, PRINTS, AND SCULPTURES, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH HAVE NEVER BEEN ON PUBLIC DISPLAY BEFORE, PROVIDES AN UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THE FULL SCOPE OF STILL'S OEUVRE AND HIS PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON AMERICAN ART. THE MUSEUM ANTICIPATES ROTATING EXHIBITIONS AT LEAST TWICE EACH YEAR, WITH SINGLE GALLERY EXHIBITS ROTATING SOMEWHAT MORE FREQUENTLY.